Kitty Burns

She’s one of the hottest cafes in Melbourne right now, nestled in the Acacia Place complex in Abbotsford away from the hustle and bustle of Victoria Street. Perched high on the banks of the Yarra River, Kitty Burns is a hidden sanctuary amongst the gum trees and wildlife, where you’ll feel a world away from the noise and traffic of the city.

The design has been brilliantly executed by Biasol: Design Studio, with a distinct Scandinavian feel and sleek minimalist style. Blonde timber frames are paired with pretty pastel blue and green accents in this lofty cafe. Plenty of greenery and pot plants warm up the interior, which blends in seamlessly with its natural surrounds without overpowering it. Sun streams in through floor to ceiling glass giving the café a bright and airy feel. There’s plenty of seating outdoors to soak up some Vitamin D on a summer’s day or to keep your pooch company over breakfast.

Designed by classically trained chef Aaron Duffy, the all day menu is playful and inventive, with a great blend of contemporary and traditional classics. The ‘Meet Mr Burns’ is a meat lover’s dream and a twist on the traditional big breakfast, loaded with a dry cured bacon slab, spiced bon bons, bacon jam, Clonakilty black pudding, eggs, mushroom, spinach and gentleman’s relish. His take on the usual smashed avocado is made with spiced Togarashi avocado paired with citrus and umami salt.

Sweet tooths will love the Skipping Girl Tiramisu, which is cleverly served in a terracotta pot, or the oh so decadent French toast with coffee ganache. Fancy a mac ‘n’ cheese croquette on the side? Why not! But I will try not to spoil all of the surprises…

As far as the drinks menu goes, it’s definitely not one for the indecisive, with a mind boggling array of super food infused smoothies, freshly made juices and naturopath crafted elixirs. Fighting off a cold? Try their ‘Immune Booster’, a supercharged concoction of apple peel, cinnamon, elderberry, rosehip, clove and hibiscus tea. And let’s not forget superbly brewed coffee and Mörk hot chocolate. The only real problem is trying to choose.
A dish which has got food Instagrammers in a tizzy is the picture perfect Eton Mess, which is definitely the neatest Eton mess I have ever seen.
A sumptuous layer of creamy coconut yoghurt is topped with fresh and dehydrated strawberries, nuggets of spiced meringue, wild orange and goji berries. Activated buckwheat clusters provide a nice textural contrast to the creamy yoghurt, rich in protein and essential amino acids.

Chia puddings are taking Melbourne by storm at the moment, and this dish at Kitty Burns has definitely stepped above the plate. Infused with coconut and a hint of vanilla, the pudding base is super creamy with a lovely texture. Fleshy chunks of mango are teamed with fresh berries, aerated coconut and caramelized buckninis to add a touch of sweetness. The only problem is the serving size, if you’re quite hungry.

Another healthy option on the menu is the blueberry and lemon bircher muesli. Soaked in organic yoghurt, the muesli is packed with nuts and grains and finished with berries and edible flowers.

If you’re in a hurry, there’s also a coffee cart outside where you can pick up a well crafted brew and one of their take away treats. There’s a great range of raw cakes, pastries and doughnuts at the cabinet. For cyclists, the Capital City Trail is just steps away, so Kitty Burns makes the perfect pit stop for a coffee drive by.

With all good things come crowds, so make sure you get here early to avoid long waits. We’ll see you there!

I’m an Aussie girl currently based in Melbourne. After spending my early years in Adelaide, I moved to Melbourne in my early 20s and a few years later moved to the big smoke in London.
The lure of beaches and good coffee eventually lured me back to Melbourne, a city I am now happy to call my “base”. Although I am always on the look out for my next travel adventure.
Ever since I was a little baby, my mother tells me I have always been obsessed with food. In fact there are not many foods I do not eat. Often described as a fat girl trapped in a thin person’s body (well at least for the moment while my metabolism is still relatively fast) I love all things food related and have a particular appreciation of pretty sweet things like cupcakes, whoopie pies and brownies.

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